Lakers trade guard Steve Blake to Warriors

In what marked a step in their rebuilding process, the Lakers parted ways with a dependable point guard that coach Mike D’Antoni had endlessly gushed over, for the sake of trimming salary.

The Lakers traded Steve Blake on Wednesday to the Golden State Warriors for two young seldom-used guards in Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks. The deal saves the Lakers about $2 million in both salary and luxury taxes.

The trade came unexpectedly, considering Blake warmed up before the Lakers hosted the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. He soon changed into street clothes and left the arena.

“Real mixed emotions,” Blake told reporters. “The hardest thing is for my family, really. I’ve got a wife and three little kids and now I’m going to have to spend four months probably away from them.”

Blake, 33, was making $4 million in the final year of his contract and averaged 9.5 points and 7.6 assists. He appeared mostly tentative in his first two seasons with the Lakers under Phil Jackson and Mike Brown. But Blake thrived under D’Antoni’s system.

“I was surprised,” said D’Antoni, who lauded Blake’s toughness. “It was more disappointing that was him. There’s a lot of guys management has to do to retool. You have to do a lot of things. But you hate it for him.”

Brooks, 25, earns about $1.2 million this season and averaged just 2.6 points in 17 appearances for the Celtics and Warriors this season. Bazemore, 24, made about $750,000 this season, and averaged 2.3 points in 6.1 minutes per game over 44 appearances this season.

The Lakers’ payroll remains at $76.9 million and the luxury tax threshold stays at $71.7 million.

Before the trade deadline ends today at noon PST, the Lakers still will try to trade Pau Gasol’s $19.3 million contract. But they remain insistent that they receive first-round draft picks. Gasol also sat out the Lakers’ game Wednesday, marking the seventh consecutive game he missed because of a strained right groin.

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“He’d like to have two or three practices before he plays,” D’Antoni said of Gasol. “I don’t think the trade deadline has anything to do with that. He feels good, but another day or two of rest and a day or two of practice and running will be better for him.”

The Lakers also held discussions with the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks about shipping Jordan Hill, according to a league source.

The Nets initially were reluctant to acquire Hill because they absorb a $17 million luxury tax penalty for acquiring the remaining $3.5 million on his expiring contract. But a league source softened its stance since Brooklyn has a $5.25 million disabled player exception to absorb Hill’s contract. Still, the Nets will shell out around $190 million in combined payroll and luxury tax.

“If anything happens, I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here,,” Hill said. “I have to be prepared for things like that and keep moving forward.”

What would Hill prefer?

“I would love to stay, but I also want to play,” Hill said. “It’s been hard, but I’m definitely not knocking coach Mike D’Antoni. He knows his offensive game. I just have to stay ready for whenever he needs me. I still think he’s a heck of a coach.”

Hill has averaged 8.5 points and seven rebounds through 19.5 minutes, but has experienced challenges cracking D’Antoni’s rotation consistently. D’Antoni often prefers floor spacers and shooters over post players. Hill has earned playing time because of his endless hustle and defensive presence.

Does that impress D’Antoni?

“What’s impressive that he does his job? That shouldn’t be a question,” D’Antoni said. “We should never have a conversation where it’s impressive he works hard. Everybody should work hard.”